(This is actually for a mod, but since it's strictly non-technical I figured it would fit better in this section.)

The Daily Scrib: Vvardenfell's finest source of news, gossip and culture!

Well, not yet. Currently it's little more than a gleam in Charlet Ashbough's eye. She's an imperial operating out of a small--actually tiny--office in Caldera. Care to help her make it a reality? If so, submit an article (or an idea for one) here (or by PM). If you wish, include an in-character by-line to credit with the article.

Mostly I'm looking for pointless gossipy stuff: Such-n-such noble is courting a Bosmer! Strange footprints on the Bitter Coast, could it be Webfoot? Queen Mother Barenziah announces plans to visit Vvardenfel, but what will she be wearing?

I'm not sure how many issues there will be, possibly only one, but I'll do more if there's enough content.

maybe as a classified ad..

Insert NPC name here- will be giving alchemy training workshops at the Balmora mages guild this coming Fredas. Anyone interested should bring with them a mortar/pestle and several leafs of the hackle-lo plant. Spaces limeted, 30 gold entry fee.

The only trouble with that kind of thing, is either I need to somehow make it clear to the player that it's just flavor text and not real, or I need to actually make it real, which could involve a substantial amount of work.

How big do you want the articles? Here's a short one, I can extend it if you want.

CAMONNA TONG SAYS NO TO THIEVES GUILD ON VVARDENFELL
By Leonde Guarde
Political Editor

The Comonna Tong, a powerful right-wing organisation with strong connections to both the Duke of Vvardenfell and the Great House Hlaalu, and who are also rumored to be connected to several reported crime-rings throughout the island, have stated they will not allow immigrating thieves to form a guild on our gloomy little isle. This paper wonders whether this statement was made out of concerns over thieves taking goods from the Dumner populace, or whether these supposed crooks are just concerned over a possible loss in business.

I thought I'd make it sound as tabloidy as possible. :tongue:
I'll try and think of some sillier articles later, I've only just woken up, and turning this rumour into an article is all my half-awake brain can think of right now.

There we go! You don't mind if I edit it a tiny bit, do you? I'd prefer to avoid explicit real world references like "right-wing", but otherwise this is perfect.

I'd love to help supply them. Here's a crazy tabloid one:

Flying Bosmer?
By Sleeps-With-Your-Wife
Tarhiel, a Bosmeri enchanter loosely affiliated with Great House Telvani, was recently sighted on the Bitter Coast, his Decaying flesh being Gnawed on by a swarm of several dozen frenzying Cliff Racers. Citizens in a number of smaller settlements have reported that he was flying from his home in Sadrith Mora, all the way to the Bitter Coast, where he met his Unfortunate end after dropping from the Sky using his "Scrolls of Icarian Flight" as he called them. According his competitor Galar Rothan, Tarhiel, who was once a Brilliant enchanter, had become obsessed with the concept of True, birdlike Flight. Galar saw his obsession as highly unfortunate, as he had found Tarhiel's previous work, such as the Automatic Kwama Killer and the Blade of Unrestrained Gluttony, to be amazing works of art and some of the best enchanted items he'd ever seen. Many fellow Wizards and friends of Tarhiel found him to be growing increasingly distant and Absorbed in his work. Fighter's Guild Champion and Drinking buddy of Tarhiel, Hrundi, stated that "Ol' Tari barely ever left his house except to stock up on food. His wife, Estinan, left him about four months after his project began. Last time I said hello to him he just sneered. Poor bastard."
Tarhiel succeeded in his Dream of flight not long ago, but Sadly, he came back down, across the Island. RIP.

What I was thinking is that "Sleeps-With-Your-Wife" would tell a variety of these stories involving things that actually happened, but sound crazy, such as Rollie the Talking Guar, The nvde Nordic Barbarians, Creeper, ect. and so would come off as a tabloid. Any misspellings or out of place capitalization are intentional to make it seem more like a tabloid.

I do like the idea of referencing real game events, but what if someone hasn't done the related quests yet? Maybe I'm a stickler for consistency, but it would bother me slightly to read a story about something that hadn't happened yet. I was thinking it might be better to have a story that "sets up" a game event, so it works whether the event has happened or not, at worst being out of date.

Now wouldn't that be better to end with something like Tarhiel's neighbour, who doesn't want his name to be published, has heard through the walls that Tarhiel is just about ready with his final scrolls and is going to try them very soon? :angel:

I'm in such a hurry with university work myself I won't have for this, but I must say I really think this is a great idea! Why not publish even less gossipy stuff? Vvardenfell could have use for a more neutral newspaper as well. How about one publishing all kinds of things?

Ha, I thought I might have been pushing it a little too far with that, feel free to edit it.

CRASSIUS' PLAY WILL BE A BEST SELLER but is it really all fiction?
Crassius Curio, an Imperial Noble and councilor of House Hlaalu, is infamous for his eccentricity, strange requests and downright perversion. And just recently he wrote a saucy play, The Lusty Argonian Maid.

Reviewers of the script have praised it's provocative and daring plotline, which tells of a socially forbidden romance, and have predicted it will be a massive success among foreign audiences. But has he drawn on past experiences? A previous employee of Crassius, who wishes to remain anonymous, has told us that "He kept requesting that I call him strange names, and made it clear that if I didn't undress for him I couldn't work with him, I just couldn't work in such an environment!". And rightfully so. Not only that, but his manor on the Vivec Hlaalu District Plaza is currently without a cleaner, because the last 3 maids hired there quit weeks after employment. While the play might be great, we're not quite so sure about the author.

Relating to current MW events (beside gossip) would be a great way to make a newspaper. Like this:


MURDERS IN VIVEC
by Taldas Valethi
Sources in the Ministry of Truth have confirmed the murders of two Ordinators of the order of the Watch in unknown circumstances. This is just the latest in a series of crimes that shook the city of Vivec. This murder raises the number of victims to 7 and has caused a wave of panic across the city. A Temple insider, who wanted to keep his identity confidential, suggested that the murders may be connected to the infamous "Sixth House" a terrorist group that acts against the Holy Tribunal. When asked about this particular theory Elam Andas, the head of the Vivec Office of the Watch, replied "Move along!" after stating that "We are watching (all of) you for your safety" .

Good stuff. I especially like the Crassius one.

Another idea or two


NEW TELVANNI TOWER OPENING

Officials from the reclusive House Telvanni have announced the opening of a new Telvanni tower in the Molag Amur region. The tower named Tel Uvirtih in the honor of the former Telvanni wizard on whose grave it was grown was constructed at the order of Telvanni Lord %PCName. "The tower has entered it's final shaping stages without any problem. When completed it will be protected by the finest Dwemer Animunculi making it one of the safest places on Vvardenfell." the same official stated. The Telvanni Master %PCName was unavailable for a interview though his Mouth Edd "Fast Eddie" Theman stated in a proverbial display of traditional Telvanni hospitality: "My master values his privacy and does not want to be bothered by the likes of you! Now get out before I summon a Daedroth!"

Ok, here is something that's a little more far-fetched, feel free to discard it if it's not suitable. I've made up an article based on rumors, lore, with some small made-up facts.

WAR IS APPROACHING?
By Leande Guarde
Political Editor

That is, if the source of these claims can be trusted.

Surely enough, the signs of war are here, tensions are already building between the provinces. The Nords of the north are as battle-hungry as ever, on both their western and eastern borders, and the Redguards and Bretons of the west are bitter after losing land to Skyrim just three decades ago, in the War of the Bend'r-mahk. Tensions are similarly tense between Valenwood and Summerset Isle, with the Wood Elves eager to reclaim the coastal islands they lost in the War of the Blue Divide. And the Tribunal are decreasing in power, while the armies of Black Marsh become increasingly stronger across the Morrowind borderfront. To top it all off, there are sinister rumors surrounding the imperial family, all while our beloved Emporer Uriel the VII is suffering from a terrible sickness.

And just this month, it has been reported that apparently two priests of an Imperial Cult in Elsewyr have been receiving visions of a great war to come, which they claim will shake the whole of Tamriel. Whether it is neigbouring provinces, or an outside force whom we shall be fighting, these two supposed seers tell us is unkown. But can these people be trusted? After being asked by the Black Horse Courier, higher-ranking individuals in the Imperial Cult have stated that their trained oracles have recieved no such messages, and that they do not support the claims of these two preists. So it may well be another hoax, but only time will tell.

i svck at enlgish, so i'm gonna REQUEST one about Ctasius"abusing" people with in his house-guild..

anyone?

Request / suggestions are good too, but unfortunately I'm not quite sure what you mean, or who Ctasius is.

crassius* (i think his name is)

bisixual hlaalu house member.

Oh, right. I guess I should have been able to figure that out.

What, more of him?! Didn't Dirnae's great article do enough justice to him already?

How about this one? I hope you get it. (Unlike my Quiz riddle that ended up svcking. )

MA'KABERR STILL MISSING
By Nelacayne

It has been many months already since the disappearance of one of Suran's most talked about subjects, a Khajiit male called Ma'Kaberr. However, every townsman reached for this report seems to think it's only good that he is gone. "He was a nuisance", commented Helviane Desele, a bartender. "Came here often, always spent time by the counter with Khinjarsi here. Rarely noticed him chatting. No-one knows of him, probably an escaped slave or something. Filthy little pvssycat; could swear there was always a few gold missing from repository when he'd been 'round. If I ever got any proof he took it, I'd turned him to guards long ago!"

Said Governor Avon Oran, "I have some new evidence that links him to that gang of bandits that have terrorized Suran for ALMSIVI knows how long. I don't know what happened to that one in particular, but I surely hope it's a sign of things to come for the whole gang. If you are reading this, know that we now know your hideout. One more raid on our town, and House Hlaalu and people of Suran won't tolerate your puny existence any longer!"

Even if he's not your most desired friend, Ma'Kaberr's complete evanescence has breached the news threshold even in Vivec. Apparently, even the Ordinators have been ordered to keep an eye on him; one was reached for a comment, "We're watching for that scum."

In Suran, some wild rumors have naturally been revolving around this mystical disappearance. "He never bowed down the Nerevar Incarnate, so I sank him in Sithis!", yelled a shirtless Dunmer who, for obvious reasons, remained anonymous to our paper. Also, one Neldris Llervu told his sleeping troubles and "bad vibes" started around Ma'Kaberr's disappearance, and seems to think a mysterious tall figure with an overly big helm kidnapped him.

Probably the wildest tale of them all is the one told by the trader Ashumanu Eraishah. "I saw that Khajiit Ma'Kaberr running upstream the river Nabia months ago, chased by a dark knight and a veiled woman I had never seen before!" However, many Suranese report this lady sees many things. The locals tell that most recently, she has been gossiping about a dangerous-looking Orc in full armor wandering the hills around Suran. In light of her recent sightings, one can only wonder how accurate Ashumanu Eraishah's description of "The Get-Away Khajiit's" supposed escape really is.

Gah, double post. :toughninja:

I wish I could say that I did, but I don't.

But speaking of riddles, the next thing I'd like to request for the Daily Scrib are some riddles and/or puzzles. (Although articles are still welcome too.) I want to include one riddle or puzzle in each issue (of which I'm pretty sure there will be a few, now). It could be a legit brain teaser, a silly pun-based riddle, or anything in between. But try to aim a little higher than "Why did the scrib cross the road?", OK? And include the answer (in a spoiler if you like), so it can be published in the following issue.

Since I 'd wish to get that article published in the Scrib at least, let's say you should read the in-game book Trap. :wink_smile: I tried to reconstruct something around it.

Someone should write about Louis Beauchamp's mumbles about an airship and an amulet. :unsure2:

mysterious outander gets it good

a prisoner from the ship "elf skerring" has, after his short time here, became head of [insert many factions here], became the nerevarine, looted the whole island of it's treasure, and done many favours for people

Needs polish, but I think I can do something with that one.

Malacath Worshippers in Vvardenfell!

The Imperial Legion advises all citizens in the viscinity of Dagon Fel to be wary, and avoid leaving the city when possible. It seems a raiding party of orcs devoted to the vile Deadra Lord of the Bloody Curse, Malacath, have setup camp in the local Dwemer Ruins of Mzuleft. Two adventurers have already been killed by the barbaric warriors, and officials have warned there is no reasoning with the group; they attack on sight. Both the Archeological Society of Morrowind and a wizard of the Mages Guild have expressed concerns over the orcs tampering with, what is, a mostly unsearched Dwemer ruin which could potentially contain useful items of information on the mysterious race. Hopefully the authorities will deal with this group soon, but until then, you have been officially warned.